Port Augusta power station ash could be toxic, health effects 'less than certain', SA Health says

Ash plumes from the defunct power station have intensified following severe weather.

ABC News: Khama Reid

Ash from the former Port Augusta power station site has a toxic potential despite concentrations of toxic metals in the dust being low, an SA Health assessment has found.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) today met with representatives from Flinders Power, which is responsible for the former power station and its remediation.

The company said it would tomorrow start reapplying dust suppressant from the air on dams that store the ash, which is a coal by-product.

It will also begin using top soil as a "long-term capping solution" this week, a process which is expected to take six months to complete.

Last month's SA Health assessment, which has just been released, found the dust contains lead, barium, iron and sulphur, which are "consistent with the coal combustion process".

The report, done for the EPA, said it was difficult to link the metals directly to health problems.

"While there is a potential for these elements to contribute to inflammation pathways in the respiratory system, the science of contribution of specific 'toxic' substances to adverse health effects via particle-in-the-air exposure is less than certain," it stated.

But the assessment also stated there was a risk from fine particles "in spite of the relatively low toxic potential of the dust emanating from the site".

"That is," the assessment continued, "particles inherently have a toxic potential irrespective of their elemental makeup."